Metal box car



Aug. 26, 1930.; w. E. VAN Dol-2N 1,774,115

IETAL Box` cAR- Filed Nov. 12, 192s e sheets-sheet 1 l U N f Aug. 26, 1930. WE1/AN DRN, 1,774,115

METAL BOX CAR Fltvad Nov. 12,. 1928 '6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 26, 1930. w. E. VAN DoRN 1,774,115

' y* IETAL BOX CAR Filed Nov. 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 26, 1930. w. E. VAN DoRN 1,'774J 15 IETAL Box CAR Filed Nov. 12. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 26, 1930.- w. E. VAN DoRN METAL BOX CAR Filed Nv. 1.2. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug 26, 1930.1 w. E. VAN DQRN 1,774,115`

ETAL BOX CAR Filed Nov. 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 26, 1930 .l

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METAL BOX CAR Application led November 12, 1928. Serial No. 318,852.

rl`he present invention has for its object to produce a frameless metal box car body which shall be light and at the same time' strong and durable, and which may be manufactured at acomparatively low cost.

A further object is to produce a frameless metal roofed box car body made of metal sheets containing within themselves and integral therewith and as a part thereof, the necessary stiifening and reinforcing elements. f

Further objects are to produce a novel metal roof, novel metal side and end walls, and a novel door for metal cars.

In carryingout my invention, the entire -body, consisting of the side Walls, end walls and roof, is made of metal sheets or lates bent or folded upon themselves to pro uce a system of Areinforcing ribs or webs for the sheets in which they are contained and, at the same time form a framework that will preserve the shape of the car body under severe serviceconditions.' Since the light plates or sheets are simply folded, there is no reduction in the cross-section of the metal' in the forming ofthe ribs or webs, and the metal may therefore be lighter than that required for shapes in which the metal is drawn to produce ribs. The structure is also lighter than one in which stifening ribs are riveted to the ends or sides or in which a substantial frame structure must be employed to give rigidity to walls that are made of fiat sheets. Furthermore, because there are only a few simple joints to be made, the cost of assemblingthe elements of my improved car body is small. i

The various features of novelty whereby 'my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out ,with particular-ity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of, its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the yfollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure lis a side elevation of somewhat more than one-half of a box car body arranged in accordance with m invention; Fig. 2 is an end view; Fig. 3 1s a top plan view, showing'only one end of the car body;

Fig.

4 is a transverse vertical section, on a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 3 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central vertical section,

on the same scale as Fig. 4, -but showingonly a frag-- ment of one end of the car; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a fragment of the roof; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through one end of the car body approximatelyxon line 7--7 of Fig.

l; Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on planes at two different elevations above the plane of Fig. 7, approximately on lines spectively, of Fig. 10 showin corresponding to the upper in Fig. 7 Fig. 10 corner of the car body, a side wall, and the roof; Fig. 11 is a section eft hand corner is a perspective view of one including an end wall,

on an enlarged scale on line 11--11 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 12 is a section, on the same scale as Fig. 11,

Referring to the drawings, A, A. represent on line 12-12 of Fig. 1.

the two side walls and B, B the two end walls of a box car. body of a size and shape,

usual or preferred n while is the roof. The y walls and the roof are so designed that when they are assembled they form a complete serviceable body without the use of additional frame elements either for the wallsor for the roof. f Each side wall consists of two panels each .extending from one end of the car to the door opening. Each panel may be made of a single piece or side by side and secured together. arrangement shown, single metal sheet or to divide it into triangular areas upon itself 1 and 2 lying in two of a number of pieces arranged In the each panel is made of a light metal plate folded 35 planes spaced apart from each other; these areas being long and narrow and being so disposed that the bases of half the triangles are at the top while the bases of the other lhalf are at'the bottom. Thus the areas 1 lie in the inner plane and the areas 2 in the outer plane; the bases of the triangular areas 1 being at the-bottom and the bases of the areas 2 being at the top. Each .triangular section or area is joined to those lying on opposite sides thereof by means of websB extending transversely of and preferably at right angles to the plane of the sheet.

It will thus be seen that each section 2, with 10c lo inclined in the opposite direction, and will end at the bottom near the lower end of a third web also inclined in the opposite direction. The result is that the webs zigzag across the panel, from top to bottom and from one end to the other, giving to the panel the characteristics of a truss. l

The car ends are made of sheets folded to produce transverse or horizontal ribs 4,

extending entirely across the ends from one i side edge to the other.

Because of the manner in which the side panels are stiffened they may be made of comparatively lightlmetal. In such case it is desirable that the side walls be somewhat stiffer where they join the end walls. I have therefore shown the side walls as terminating a short distance from the corners of the car body so as to leave a gap between them and the end walls; These gaps are bridged by means of comparatively heavy plates 6 each riveted or otherwise secured along one edge to the corresponding main side wall panel and having a marginal portion 7 along the opposite edge flanged laterally so as to overlap the adjacent ends of the ribs in the corresponding end wall. The flanges 7 are riveted or otherwise secured to the end walls, prefer- `ably by riveting through the high or outer faces of the ribs. Further security may be b given to the corners'by placing in the angles between the plates 6 and the end walls angle pieces 8, one flange of each of which is riveted or otherwise secured to the corresponding plate 6 whilethe other flange is rivetedor otherwise secured to the element forming the bottom ofthe valley between two of the ribs in the corresponding end wall. In other words, each end wall is fastened to each of the two side walls along two vertical lines spaced apart from each other a distance equal to the thickness or depth of the ends of the ribs in the end walls.

Extending along the top of each side wall horizontal web rests on the upper edge of the of the car is a Z bar 5 whose substantially` 12 overlappingV the corner plates 6 at the sides of the car.

The'roof is provided with a continuous depending skirt or flange that embraces the upper flanges of the Z bars and the upper portions of :the end plates 11 when the roof is placed in position.

The roof is made of sheet fmetal folded to produce transverse stiffening ribs'which, in turn, are collapsed at the ends where the sheet must be folded or bent down to form flanges. In the arrangement shown the roof sheet is folded so as to produce raised diamondshaped areas 14, elongated in the transverse direction and arranged close together. The raised areas are joined to the half diamonds 15 lying between them, but in a lower plane, by means of vertical webs 16. After the sheet has been folded, it is bent or again folded along the longitudinal center line so as to form two sections sloping downwardly in opposite directions from the longitudinal center or ridge. As best shown in Fig. 10, each rib is flattened at the ends, as indicated at 17, throughout that portion of the sheet that is turned down to produce the flange 18. Flanges 19 are bent down at the ends of the roof. The flanges 18 are riveted to the upper flanges 10 of the Z bars at the sides of the car while the flanges 19 are riveted to the upper marginal portions of the end plates 11.

On the underside of the roof, as best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I place tension members that conveniently take the form of troughshaped bars 20 about half as long as the width of the roof and each lying between two of the raised portions or ribs. The ends of the tension members or ltie bars are preferably welded to the roof sheet to avoid puncturing the latter. Then, if spacers are placed between .the middle portions of the tension members and the ridge of the roof, the central portion of the roof will be converted into a truss.. In the arrangement shown, the spacers takethe form of what may be termed .a ridge pole 21 extending from one end of the car to the other, underneath the roof sheet and-above t-he 'tension members. The extreme ends of the ridge pole may be supported on suitable rests, such as brackets or angle pieces 22 secured to the inner side of the end plates 11.

A light floor frame 25 adapted to support floor stringers 26 lies in the bottom of the car. body; the end walls, at least, being secured thereto. Underneath the floor-frame are heavy side sills 27. The side walls of the structure, including the corner plates 6, extend down past and are riveted or otherwise secured to the side sills. A

The lower ends of the side walls, being secured to the side sills, are' tied together so that they cannot spread apart. -Also, by reason of the fact that the stifening elements extend from the bottom to the top of the side loe llo

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Walls, these walls c annot bulge outwardly under pressure of the load within the car. Therefore, if the side walls are effectively tied together at the top, no other or additional reinforcing means or framing for the side walls will be required. The roof is of such a means effectively to tie together the upper ends of the side walls, for the roof is not only stiff to resist pressure downwardlyupon' the same, but it is also a'strong tension member or t-ie. Consequently, since no carlins or other transverse supporting elements are requiredrfor the "roof, it will be seen that the car body as a whole is a rigid, self-reinforced structure based on the car underframe, no other framing or reinforcement being required.

It will also be seen that the roof, while of great strength to support a load and tie together the tops and the side walls of thecar, as well as the tops of the end walls, yet possesses suificient flexibility to permit it to weave or otherwise yield as required inservice; this being due to the fact that the vertical webs 16 may swing upper or lower margins, thus permittingthe sections 14 and 15 to move relatively to'each other longitudinally of the car.

It will also be seen that the longitudinal 2 bar at the top and the corresponding side sill at the bottom form the upper and lower chords of a truss, the'flat areas 1 and Q/constituting the web, and the diagonal-elements 3- forming braces between said upper and lower chords.

Any suitable flooring, such as indicated at 30, may be laid. -If sheathing is desired on the inner side of the end and sidewalls, it

may be applied in any suitable way, conveniently as show n. Thus, thesheathing on the `sides may consist of horizontal "-,boards 31 slipped underneath vertical straps`32 secured at their ends to the side walls. The sheathing yat the ends may consist of vertical boards 33'secured to a plurality of cross pieces 34 that are adapted to enter the troughs in the rear sides of some of the ribs 4, so as to permit the boards to rest against those portions of the ends that still lie in the normal planes of the sheets. This sheathing may be held in place by means of small brackets 35 as best shown in Fig. 7.

The car doors may conveniently be constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 11 and 12, the door as a Whole being represented at D. The main portion or body of the door consists of a sheet of metal l folded to produce stiffen- ,ing and reinforcing ribs 41; the folds being conveniently along parallel horizontal lines so as to produce hills and valleys flattened atthe top and bottom and havin iat sides. The body portion is surrounded by a frame 42 made of U-shaped channels which conveniently meet in mitred joints at the four corners of the door. 'Filling pieces of wood or tilt slightly about their to theadj acent end and side walls.

water or any foreign matter from leaking into the inside of the car between the door center and the vertical frame members there- The door preferably has rollers 44 at the bottom, these rollers running on a track 45 fixed to the side of the car. When the door v is closed, one vertical edge fits into a U-shaped plate 46 projecting from the side of the car beside the door opening. The upper margin of the door liesbehind a long overhanging plate 47, that serves as the upper guide as well as a weather shield for the door.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred formof my invention, I do. not desire vto be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a railway car, a frameless car body comprising end and side walls each formed upper marginal portions of said end and side walls.

2. In a car body, end and side walls composed of light metal sheets, there being a gap between the end and side walls at the corners of the body, and heavy metal plates spanning said gaps and each rigidly fastened Q3. In a car body, sheet metal end walls folded-to produce transverse stitfening ribs extending .from one side of the body to the other, llight metal side walls terminating shortfof the ends of the body, corner elements in the form ofheavy plates secured to the ends of the side walls and extending past the vertical edges of said end walls and ribs, Hanges on said corner elements extending over and secured to the outer marginal portion of said ribs, and fastening pieces in the angles between and secured to said corner elements and the end walls.

4. In a vcar body, side wallsI composed of sheet metal folded to produce the requisite stiffness of the superstructure, an underframe attached to the lower marglnal portions of said walls, and`a frameless roof composed of sheet metal folded to vproduce transverse ribs and flanged downwardly past the upper marginal-portions of the side walls and serving to tie the upper ends of the side walls together. 1 v

5. In a car body, side walls consistinfyof /1/20 metal sheets folded to produce therein stiffening ribs extending from top to bottom, a frame to which the lower ends of the side walls are secured, a frameless roof consisting of sheet metal folded to form sharp cornered stiffening webs transverse to the plane thereof and extending transversely across the ear body, and means securing the roof to upper ends of the said side walls to cause the roof to form a tie between said walls.

6. In a car body, side walls consisting of metal sheets folded in a manner to cause each side wall to have the characteristics of a truss, an underframe to which the lower ends of the side walls are secured, a frameless roof consisting of sheet metal folded to form stiff- 'ening webs transverse to the plane thereof and extending transversely across the car body, and means securing the roof to upper ends of the said side walls to cause the roof to form a tie between said walls.

7 In a car body, side and end walls, and a frameless metal roof fixed to the upper ends of said walls, said roof comprising sheet metal folded across its entire width transversely of the car to form raised reinforcing ribs having flat faces and sharp corners.

8. In a car body, side and end walls, a frameless metal' roof fixed to the lupper ends of the said walls, said roof comprising sheet metal folded to form sharp-cornered ribs extending across the car from one side to the other, the roof being bent along the longitudinal center line to cause the same to slope uniformly downwardly in both directions from the longitudinal center, horizontal cross pieces fixed to the underside of the roof and extending across. the longitudinal center, and spacers between each cross piece and the apex of the roof.

9. A roof structure for a car comprising a metal sheet folded to produce raised ribs extending entirely across the roof from side to side, the sheet being bent along the longitudinal center to cause the same to slope downwardly in both directions from the longitudinal Centex', transverse tie bars secured to and underlying the roof below said ribs, and

spacers between the central portions of the bars and the roof.

10. In a box car, sheet metal side Walls, the material of each side wall being folded to divide the wallinto triangular sections disposed in two separated parallel planes .and joined by webs transverse thereto, sectipns whose bases are at the bottom alternating -with others Whose bases are at the top.'

11. In a railway car body, sheet/metal end and side walls of a single thickness secured together at the corners of the body, the metal of sheets composing said walls being folded to produce a system of stiffening ribs serving as the frame of the superstructure, the said ribs on the side walls including oppositely inclined webs extending from top to bottom.

12. In a car body, end and side walls composed of light metal sheets folded to form stifening members in said walls, there being a gap between the end and side walls at the corners of the body, and flat heavy metal plates spanning said gaps and each rigidly fastened to the adjacent ends of the side walls, said plates having flanges overlapping and secured to narrow marginal portions of said end walls.

13. In a railway car body, sheet metal end and side walls of a single thickness secured together, and a sheet metal roof secured to the upper marginal portions of the side and end walls, the metal of said walls and roof being folded to produce a system of ribs reinforcing the walls and roof and constituting the frame structure of the car body.

In testimony'whereof, I sign this specilication.

WILLIAM E. VAN DOEN. 

